jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Aug 11, 2013 16:07:54 GMT -5
These are ready for polish. It is about 13 pounds and different concretes and mixes. They are fast. This was broken out of a chunk found in a Georgia creek. Looks like local marble ![](http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5487/9481873685_6499607c0b_b.jpg) From a chunk in Zapata Texas ![](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7314/9484698962_7cc837fd38_b.jpg) I poured these Glass ![](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7388/9484697030_7e6f206910_b.jpg) ![](http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3791/9484691476_b51a4238b3_b.jpg) ![](http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3796/9484686266_e31959c586_b.jpg) Georgia jasper ![](http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2847/9484670568_5f519a5b82_b.jpg) ![](http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3805/9484679058_ae935684b4_b.jpg) Texas basalt and devil's toenails ![](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7380/9481895289_2738e9bfcd_b.jpg) ![](http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3727/9484674666_06bea89880_b.jpg) This stuff is fun. Hope it polishes. Many concretes do. Some more in this Flicker link www.flickr.com/photos/67205364@N06/sets/72157635031954860/
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Post by Toad on Aug 11, 2013 19:10:56 GMT -5
Looks fantastic.
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Post by vegasjames on Aug 11, 2013 19:47:22 GMT -5
Great idea, really came out great.
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Aug 11, 2013 20:00:03 GMT -5
Georgia is one of the largest sources of granite and marble in the world. A lot of concrete is made using aggregate from exotic marble and granite scraps from the quarries. Granite gravel is said to be the cheapest in the US. So 'pretty concrete' is fairly common. Old cured concrete tumbles much better than new concrete-even if the new concrete is a year old. This has rolled around w/15 pounds and stayed together(from Zapata Texas) ![](http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5338/9484688056_2f81f34908_b.jpg)
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panamark
fully equipped rock polisher
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Post by panamark on Aug 11, 2013 21:21:32 GMT -5
Really surprising and beautiful. Especially like the glass stuff. Gets me thinkin'. Uh oh!
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Aug 12, 2013 7:57:30 GMT -5
Thanks Mark. They recycle a lot of concrete these days using portable crushers for making road gravel. So it is broken to tumble size for you.
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rockpickerforever
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Post by rockpickerforever on Aug 12, 2013 8:53:32 GMT -5
Better watch that, Mark. You know that'll get you in trouble! I like your colorful homemade concrete, James. It does so much resemble the first two.
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snuffy
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Post by snuffy on Aug 12, 2013 10:34:32 GMT -5
Those are certainly different! Interested to see the concrete polished.Cant grasp the cement polished by tumbling,at least the kind I've used in my days.
snuffy
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Aug 12, 2013 11:08:54 GMT -5
In polish for 24 hours. Nothing has a polish except the coral and jasper. So the aggregate is crushed coral(no sand). Just pure Portland powder and crushed coral from 1/32 to 3/8. That is the mix. Coral polishes quick so it and probably the jasper will polish. The glass and basalt/toenail mix is dull still. And it is a bad idea to run glass and agate together. My experience is that the harder material polishes and the softer does not or not as well when tumbled together
So every little piece of coral has a polish but the concrete is dull. it makes the coral pop like shiny jewels though.
Note- the coarse slurry will alkaline cook your hands-wear gloves I have done all this w/aluminum oxide and this stuff tumbles fast 40 grit to 220 grit to AO polish (10 days in 40 grit)
Snuffy-i like the old fashioned Portland blend. The newer stuff is softer and I feel will no shine.. The Portland may never shine but the agates crushed into it sure will.
By the way, a lot breaks and comes apart. I added more concrete in the coarse cycle. But the other stages I topped off w/lightly tumbled glass.
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Aug 12, 2013 11:14:11 GMT -5
Thanks Jean. I am having fun with this stuff.
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snuffy
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Post by snuffy on Aug 12, 2013 11:45:33 GMT -5
Okay,Gotcha on the aggregate not polishing up. We used Portland in our stucco business.I see you use the white.
snuffy
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Aug 12, 2013 12:12:41 GMT -5
The rocks polish but not the white part(Portland part). But I have used the browner Portland too(not bleached).
I do use water reducer. The less water the stronger to a point. Water reducer is a chemical mixed with the mix. You know that.
The bleached white Portland comes in those 92 pound bags-remember those. Dammit man- that was 92 pounds that feels like 200 pounds. Ha
That way you can stain it or darken it to any color. I like to stain with crushed glass/jasper. Those sharp particles makes stroooong concrete If you take red agate jasper and beat the stew out of it the finest powder will give that white Portland a red color. You can screen the red and use the fines to color(and strength) to the white Portland and the screen 1/8 1/4 3/8 say uh green jasper to make Christmas colored tumbles. The combinations are insane. I pour into 5 x 10 x 11 mold and cut 5 x 10 inch slabs on my rock saw. then cut those into whatevers on a tile saw to tumble(like cabs).
BUT YOU gotta have strong mix-gotta. And ya gotta wait at least 30 days for cure. You can look up concrete countertops and learn about exotic tough concrete mixes. But many are moving from old school Portland. And I saw jewelry mix the other day. gotta try that
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Aug 12, 2013 12:19:13 GMT -5
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snuffy
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Post by snuffy on Aug 12, 2013 12:21:47 GMT -5
92.4 lbs,handled thousands over the years,them heavy mf'ers No mas!
snuffy
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Aug 12, 2013 12:30:52 GMT -5
Laughing, I like the 92.40000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
You think the .400000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 is what breaks the back hahaha
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 12, 2013 12:41:00 GMT -5
Thee older I get, the more significant those last few digits are.....
Thanks for sharing the pics.
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Aug 12, 2013 13:38:16 GMT -5
Got your box ready to send. The real white ones will have a good color (butterscotch and lite caramel)
The one I ground on has ghost polyps. Me and Florida bud are headed to collect thurs if no more monsoons.
I need IIII RRRR OOOO NNNNN(iron) stained. I knowwwwwwwww what to get now.
Iron makes yellow orange purple red and a mix of any of those.
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